Progress meter

ABSTRACT

The progress meter provides a progress hand which is moved by a progress shaft, concentric about the conventional hour hand shaft, at some predetermined rate which is some fraction of a revolution per hour. A dial is superimposed on the time piece face graduated in selective rate of progress in correspondence with a predetermined speed reduction ratio between a conventional transmission element axis (in chain of transmission increments with the number of graduations around the dial determined by a built-in reduction ratio between a gear selected for installation on a conventional transmission element and a gear on the progress shaft. Also, adaptation is made whereby the conventional time and alarm setting device may be employed selectively to set the progress hand while overriding the clutch connection normally operative to carry drive to the progress hand from conventional time piece sources.

Ilited States Patent [191 Forrester, Jr.

[45] Oct. 2, 1973 l PROGRESS METER Henry H. Forrester, Jr., Rt. 1, Box 27F, Ethel, La. 77030 [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 174,858

[76] Inventor:

[52] 11.5. CI. 58/152 E, 58/127 R, 58/145 A [51] Int. Cl. G04b 37/12, G04b 5/20 [58] Field of Search 58/125 R, 127 R,

58/126 R, 145 A, 152 R, 152 E, 152 F, 152 G; 235/95 R, 95 A, 61 NV, 61 S, 61 V Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerEdith C. Simmons Jackmon Attorney-William E. Ford [57] ABSTRACT The progress meter provides a progress hand which is moved by a progress shaft, concentric about the conventional hour hand shaft, at some predetermined rate which is some fraction of a revolution per hour. A dial is superimposed on the time piece face graduated in selective rate of progress in correspondence with a predetermined speed reduction ratio between a conventional transmission element axis (in chain of transmission increments with the number of graduations around the dial determined by a built-in reduction ratio between a gear selected for installation on a conventional transmission element and a gear on the progress shaft Also, adaptation is made whereby the conventionaltime and alarm setting device may be employed selectively to set the progress hand while overriding the clutch connection normally operative to carry drive to the progress hand from conventional time piece sources.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBBT 21915 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR Henry H. Forrester Jr.

ATTORNEY rnoomass METER BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Known prior art includes Putnam US. Pat. No. 2,289,038, issued July 7, 1942, for Pilotage Watch, then classified in Class 58-126. Since the days when civilian and military aviation were expanding other and less ethereal problems have arisen to be solved. For instance, in the field of special sports, enduro races have developed since about 1965, wherein motorcycles progress over prescribed courses, with some correspondence with obstacle courses, and which test the endurance of both riders and their motorcycles, with rewards predicated on negotiating a course while maintaining a most consistent rate of progress corresponding with an average prescribed for the race.

Thus a need has arisen for progress meters which may be installed on motorcycle handle bars whereby the riders may view at any point, their distance from start, as recorded by a speedometer, against the distance that should have been traversed as disclosed by the progress meter in correspondence with the particular average rate pre-established for the course. Thus information is constantly available to riders suggesting acceleration or deceleration of their rates of progress. Progress meters, as hereinabove outlined, can also have applications for various other usages, as for imparting information as to achieved production against a prescribed rate of production, as in factory piece work.

The invention thus relates to progress meters of the time that give continuous record of progress that should have been made in correspondence with preestablished rate of progress, as, for comparison with actual progress made.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide progress meters that continuously reflect progress that should have been made at any selectively preestablished rate, for comparison with record of progress actually made.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide progress meters of this class which are actuated by time pieces, as clocks.

It is a further object of this invention to provide progress meters of this class which comprise specially adapted clocks mounted on ridden and manually directed vehicles, as motorcycles in enduro races.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide progress meters of this class which are adapted to be readily changed to record the progress that should have been made for different pre-established rates of progress, simply by changing the dials superimposed on the clock faces.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide progress meters of this class which are adapted to be zeroed for any specified starting time.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification herein is considered in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bracketed view showing progress meter face as juxtaposed against a recorder of actual progress, as a speedometer;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view, with parts cut away, and part in section, showing relationships of pertinent elements of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view of a progress meter, including elements shown isometrically in FIG.

2, as adapted to be mounted on a motorcycle handle- .bar; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a progress meter, as supported by a stand or base.

STRUCTURES DISCLOSED Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals are assigned to like elements in the various views, a bracketed view is shown in FIG. 1 with available in easy sight of an operator, as a rider, the face 11 of a timepiece 10 with end of minute hand shaft 12 shown, thus with minute hand 13 outermost, next with hour hand 14 shown, and with progress hand 15 innermost. The conventional clock dial enumeration circle 16 is then visible just outwardly of the end of the minute hand 13 and an annular disc area with dial circle 17 is visible just outwardly of the outer end of the progress hand 15. The dial circle or annulus is shown with graduations around its circle, with the progress arrow pointing to the fifteenth (15) graduation, as the minute and hour hands 13, 114, collectively indicate 9 oclock. This could mean that 1 hour after the start of a race, (8 oclock starting time for the respective rider), progress of 15 units, as miles, should have been made. Thus the indication is that the progress hand 15 is geared to make one revolution in 90/15 or every 6 hours. The structural arrangements by which this gearing is effected with relation to conventional clock mechanism will be hereinbelow described.

The face 118 of a conventional speedometer 20 is shown as being visible slightly to the right of the timepiece or clock 10 with mileage window 19 indicating that the vehicle, as a motorcycle, has traveled a total of 153.2 miles, and with the trip window 21 indicating that the vehicle has actually traveled a distance of 17.8 miles for the particular trip, or since the start of the particular race. Thus the rate of progress has been too fast by 2.8 miles per hour, so the rider should reduce speed to bring the rate of travel to the predetermined or prescribed rate of 15 miles per hour for the race.

A time-piece or clock 11) is shown in FIG. 3 with at least part of the conventional clock mechanism being indicated at least partially diagrammatically, and with parts and/or parts of elements shown in section. The clock housing or case 22 is indicated as having a retaining rim 23 press-fitted downwardly thereinto, to retain a clear plastic crystal 24 as the recurved upper or outer, smaller diameter part of the rim 23 bears latchably upon an enlargement or rim defining the outer diameter of the crystal 24. The crystal 24 is thus shown supported by or restrained to bear downwardly against a mileage circle or dial 17 as pins 25 maintain the dial 17 stationary against rotation with relation to a backing plate 31 that is supported by posts 30 which are in turn supported above a support plate 32 held above the inner surface of the casing base 33 by uprights or posts 34.

The conventional minute hand shaft 12 has its inner end journalled in ajournal cup 35 formed in the casing base 33, with the end face of the shaft bearing rotatably within the bottom of the journal cup 35. The conventional minute hand shaft 12 is shown slidably mounting the gear 36 which bears upwardly or outwardly against an upper collar 37a which is fixed to the shaft 12, while a spring 38 urges against the under face of the gear 36, the spring 38 being based upon a lower collar 37b affixed to the shaft 12 slightly above the journal cup 35.

The gear 36 is driven by the conventional time-piece escapement-main spring mechanism as noted in FIG. 3. A gear 39 is shown fixed to the minute hand shaft 12 above the upper collar 37a conventionally to drive the gear 40a of a conventional transmission element 40 to be hereinbelow described as the conventional member or element to which attaches the first element or member of a novel chain of elements comprised in the invention, and to be hereinbelow described.

A retaining collar 41 is fixed to the minute hand shaft 12 above the gear 39 to rotate with relation to the under side of the support plate 32, and thus fixes the minute hand shaft 12 against axial movement or translation. The shaft 12 then extends through a bore 32a in the support plate 32, and has the minute hand 13 mounted on its outer end, as aforesaid. The minute hand shaft 12 is thus journally supported by the spaced apart members 32, 35.

The conventional composite transmission element 40 includes the aforesaid gear 40a and integrally assembled therewith a substantially long pinion 40b with a post 42 upstanding from the offset or lowered portion 32b of the support plate 32 to serve as an axle about which the composite gear-pinion 40 rotates, as the lower end face of the pinion element 40b bears rotatably upon the upper surface of the plate portion 32b which is slotted at 32c whereby the gears 39, 40a, are in meshed engagements. As remaining conventional clock drive features a substantially large diameter gear 26 is shown mounted upon the lower end of a hollow sleeve or shaft 27 termed the hour hand shaft, on the upper end thereof the hour hand 14 is mounted.

The hereinabove described conventional clock mechanism is adapted to the purposes of this invention by press-fitting an adapter pinion 28 onto the upper end of the pinion 40b to mesh with a progress shaft drive gear 29 that is mounted on a progress shaft 43 that is concentric about the hour hand shaft 27, this shaft 27 conventionally being concentric about the minute hand shaft 12, as shown in FIG. 3. The hereinabove described relationships are also well disclosed in isometric relationship in FIG. 2.

As disclosed the progress shaft 43 bears with lower end face supported with slightly frictional contact upon the upper surface of the large diameter 26 that is mounted on the hour hand shaft 27, but there is transmission of drive between these two elements 43, 27, by virtue of this contact.

The progress shaft mounted gear 29 is not affixed thereto except by the friction of a metallic washer 44 as urged against the upper surface of the said gear 29, (to be explained), as the gear 29 is supported upon a retaining collar or flange 45 which is shown in FIG. 3, (and as cut away in FIG. 2), in manner to illustrate that it is rigidly connected to the hollow progress shaft 43. A rubber or otherwise flexible or compressible washer 46 is installed upon the progress shaft 43 to rest upon the upper surface of the metallic washer 44 on the upper face of which bears the under surface ofa setting gear 47. The setting gear 47 has fixed relation upon the progress shaft 43 by virtue of the fact that a special washer 48, when urged against in assembly, bites into the progress shaft 43, and fixes itself thereon and in relation thereto. as the compressible washer 46 constantly urges upwardly against the aforesaid setting gear 47 to maintain it in constant axial position upon the progress shaft 43. The parts immediately hereinabove described, from the adapter pinion 28, through the chain of elements to the progress hand 15, comprise the added novel combination of operative elements.

Noticeably the clock face 11 is secured, in proper concentric position, upon the backing plate 31, FIG. 3. Also, noticeably outside of the periphery of the clock face 11, a second dial circle 17a, FIG. 3, is shown disposed under the dial circle 17. Also the dial circles 17 and 17a, FIG. 3, may be printed on both sides for pacing races at various rates of speed. Thus, a dial circle with 96 graduations would serve for a race paced at l6 miles per hour; 120 at 20 miles per hour; and 72 at 12 miles per hour. For example, should the dial circle 17, left side of FIG. 1, be printed on its back side for a race spaced at 12 miles per hour, it is obvious that on the opposite side, facing inwardly, with numeral disposition appropriately switched, the succesive graduations 72, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32, 24, 16, 8 and 0, would be opposite, through the thickness of the dial, from the respectively shown clockwise graduations 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 0.

In order to set the progress head 15, the conventional clock setting mechanism 50 may be employed. Such mechanism as shown in FIG. 3 comprises a composite stem 49 which includes a handle 51 which normally extends through a bore 33a in the casing base 33 with a lower spring 52a around the central stem portion 49a shouldering at a lower end upon the handle 51, and bearing upwardly against the lower flange of a flanged bushing 53 through a bore in the offset lower plate portion 32b; also a spring 52b around the central stem portion 49a shouldering downwardly against the upper flange of the flanged bushing 53, and bearing upwardly against the under face of a setter pinion 54 that pressfitted upon the upper end of the stem 49.

conventionally the handle 51 of the setting mechanism 50 is retracted outwardly to bring the setter pinion 54 in mesh the gear 40 a of the transmission element 40, so that the handle 51 may be turned to set the hour and minute hands 14, 13, as desired, the progress hand 15 also turning since the adapter pinion 28 is in mesh with the progress shaft drive gear 29, as this occurs. When the hour and minute hands 14, 13, have been set, release of the handle 51 results in the springs 52a, 52b, counterpoising the clock setting mechanism 50 with its stem 49 in relative position shown in FIG. 3.

Then, when it is desired to set the progress hand 15 at any desired predetermined position, the handle 51 is pushed inwardly to engage the setter pinion 54 with the setter gear 47, as affixed to the progress shaft 43. At this point it may be noted that the setter gear 47 is of pitch diameter and tooth form that correspond with the alarm setting gear in conventional clock mechanism. However, whereas the alarm setting gear had been attached to mechanism of its own, the setter gear 47, in this invention, is shown attached to the progress shaft 43, as aforesaid, while the parts and mechanisms that worked in chain from the alarm setting gear have been removed. Thus in the drawings it is clearly indicated that the setter pinion 54 may be moved inwardly into engagement with the setter gear 47 provided by this invention, and for a different purpose than the conventional alarm setting gear that it replaces.

When the handle 51 is turned to set the progress hand 15, the manually applied torque, passed through to the setter gear 47 is enough to overcome the friction which normally holds the progress shaft drive gear 29 in driving engagement with the adapter pinion 28, so that in effect the progress shaft drive gear 29 stands still as the'metallic washer 44 and also the retainer flange 45 move frictionally with relation to the respective side faces of the gear 29. Thus in effect the gear 29 is declutched from any effective progress shaft engagement. After the progress hand 115 has thus been set by rotation of the handle Sll, this handle may be released so that the clock setting mechanism 50 assumes the position shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3 a clamp 55 connected by bolt and nut 56a, 56b, to a bracket 57, is drawn into fixed grasping, frictional engagement with under, outer surface portions of amotorcycle handlebar 58, thus to urge the handlebar inner, upper surfaces into tight, frictional engagement with the curved surface of the bracket 57. Also the bracket 57, through its base and side portions 33, 33b, is effectively affixed to the clock case 22, as by setscrews and nuts 56c, 56b, with compressible washers 57a, 57b, 570, respectively interposed as shown in FIG. 3, whereby to minimize vibration.

A rim lift device 60 is shown in FIG. 3 as comprised of a cam member 611 with shank 62 extending outwardly therefrom through a casing side 33c with outer end, not shown, but turned down and threaded to receive a lock nut 63 and wing nut 64 thereon. Thus the wing nut may be grasped and torque applied thereto to rotate the shank 62 in the casing side 330 to disposethe cam member 61 with enlarged or eccentric portion upwardly to apply a lifting force against a lowermost surface area of the retaining rim 23, thus to lift the rim 23 for disengagement from within the clock housing or casing 22.

Although the clock casing 22 is shown in FIG. 3 as connected to a motorcycle handlebar 58, there is no restriction on the usage of the invention and the timepiece may have its casing 22 mounted on more than a base 65 to upstand therefrom in manner to dispose the time-piece as a table or upright clock 110a. This would be an applicable means of support as in cases, for instance, where a clock might be used, as converted, to register piece work production according to a pre-set rate, against piece work actually performed.

As a matter of practicality the setter gear 47 replaces the conventional alarm setting gear of a time piece. Also whereas the time piece hour and minute hands 14, 113, may be consulted for the time, such may be omitted and time check made against progress by some auxiliary time piece, as a wrist watch, or plant master clock. Also the gear 26 and the hour hand shaft 27 may be omitted and in this either the retainer flange 45 or the lower end face of the progress shaft 43, whichever is lowermost, may bear rotatably upon the support plate 32.

The invention is thus set forth so the spirit thereof may be surmised from the illustrative structural combinations shown for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation. Thus other structures or arrangements may fall within the encompassment thereof,

while the claimsare by way of introductory illustration.

a drive gear, an hour hand shaft concentric about said minute hand shaft and mounting hour hand gear thereon, and transmission means for transmitting drive from said drive gear to said hour hand gear, said time piece also including time setting means comprising a yieldably biased pinion, said progress meter comprising,

a) a hollow progress shaft concentric about said main axis and having a b) driven gear thereon,

c) an adapter pinion disposed by said transmission means on axis spaced from said main axis normally to drive said driven gear at escapement controlled rate,

d) a progress hand affixed to the outer end of said progress shaft,

. e) a setting gear axially fixed to said progress shaft to rotate therewith,

f) clutch means between said setting gear and said driven gear and normally urging said driven gear to transmit drive from said drive gear to said progress shaft,

g) said setting gear being adapted to have said yieldably biased pinion selectively urged into engagement therewith whereby rotation thereof overrides clutch connection between said setting gear and said driven gear to permit setting of said progress hand, and

h) a dial superimposed on the time piece face and graduated in relation to drive gear driven gear ratio whereby to correspond with a predetermined progress rate.

2. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, which additionally includes means to clamp said meter to a motorcycle handlebar.

3. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, which additionally includes a supporting base.

4. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, in which said meter includes a case with a retaining rim pressfitted thereinto, and a crystal restrained by said retaining rim to bear upon said dial, and a cam on the side of said case and rotatable to lift a retaining rim portion upwardly for retaining rim disengagement.

5. A progress meter as claimed in claim I, in which additional dial storage can be made under said dial, with dials of different graduations for different predetermined progress rates.

6. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, in which dial graduation may be on both sides and for different predetermined progress rates.

7. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, which additionally includes retainer and bearing means comprising, respectively, a retainer flange on said progress shaft, and the lower end face of said progress shaft.

8. A progress meter as claimed in claim 11, which additionally includes retainer and bearing means comprising a retainer flange on said progress shaft.

9. A progress meter as claimed in claim I, in which the hour hand shaft extends between the minute hand shaft and the progress shaft.

10. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, which includes a support plate on which a minute hand shaft collar and the end face of said hour hand shaft are rotatably supported. 

1. For employment with a progress recorded, a progress meter, as for enduro racers, with progress recorder including a time piece with escapement driven, journalled minute hand shaft on a main axis and mounting a drive gear, an hour hand shaft concentric about said minute hand shaft and mounting hour hand gear thereon, and transmission means for transmitting drive from said drive gear to said hour hand gear, said time piece also including time setting means comprising a yieldably biased pinion, said progress meter comprising, a) a hollow progress shaft concentric about said main axis and having a b) driven gear thereon, c) an adapter pinion disposed by said transmission means on axis spaced from said main axis normally to drive said driven gear at escapement controlled rate, d) a progress hand affixed to the outer end of said progress shaft, e) a setting gear axially fixed to said progress shaft to rotate therewith, f) clutch means between said setting gear and said driven gear and normally urging said driven gear to transmit drive from said drive gear to said progress shaft, g) said setting gear being adapted to have said yieldably biased pinion selectively urged into engagement therewith whereby rotation thereof overrides clutch connectIon between said setting gear and said driven gear to permit setting of said progress hand, and h) a dial superimposed on the time piece face and graduated in relation to drive gear - driven gear ratio whereby to correspond with a predetermined progress rate.
 2. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, which additionally includes means to clamp said meter to a motorcycle handlebar.
 3. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, which additionally includes a supporting base.
 4. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, in which said meter includes a case with a retaining rim press-fitted thereinto, and a crystal restrained by said retaining rim to bear upon said dial, and a cam on the side of said case and rotatable to lift a retaining rim portion upwardly for retaining rim disengagement.
 5. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, in which additional dial storage can be made under said dial, with dials of different graduations for different predetermined progress rates.
 6. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, in which dial graduation may be on both sides and for different predetermined progress rates.
 7. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, which additionally includes retainer and bearing means comprising, respectively, a retainer flange on said progress shaft, and the lower end face of said progress shaft.
 8. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, which additionally includes retainer and bearing means comprising a retainer flange on said progress shaft.
 9. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, in which the hour hand shaft extends between the minute hand shaft and the progress shaft.
 10. A progress meter as claimed in claim 1, which includes a support plate on which a minute hand shaft collar and the end face of said hour hand shaft are rotatably supported. 